Cushioning unit



E. H. BLATTNER 242,412

CUSHIONING UNIT Filed June 23, 1938 Patented May 20, 1941 CUSHIONING UNIT Emil H. Blattner, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application June 23, 1938, Serial No. 215,481

24 Claims. (01.267-9) This invention relates to snubbers or cushioning mechanisms or units which are particularly adapted to assist in resiliently supporting a bolster or load carrying member of a railway truck from an associated side frame.

An object of the invention is the provision of a cushioning unit capable of resiliently and frictionally resisting the movement of a superimposed load as well as interrupting or disturbing the harmonic or synchronous vibrations of associated springs.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an initially compressed resilient element.

associated with component parts of a unit that is further energized after the unit has been compressed a predetermined degree.

A still further object of the invention is to arrange and construct the associated parts of the unit so that a resilient element thereof will be gradually energized after a. predetermined compressive movement of the device, and as a result thereof the frictional forces will be correspondingly increased.

These objects and numerous features of the invention will become apparent from the succeeding detailed description of the invention which is to be considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, the latter of which illustrates an exemplified form of the invention and where-' Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a cushioning mechanism or unit embodying the present invention, a portion thereof being illustrated in elevation to more clearly disclose the structure.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 22 of Figure l,'lookin'g in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the lines 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and through a horizontal plane spaced below that of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational detailed view of a portion of the unit removed from the assembled structure of Figure 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing wherein like parts areodesignated throughout by like the associated resilient means during service. The unit is of simplified construction and capable of efiectively accomplishing the purpose for which it is intended.

Included in the unit or device is a barrel member 2 comprising an end plate or cap 3 and a tubular member 4, the latter of which is preferably formed of a section or length of commercial tubing or pipe. The cap 3 is formed in part by an annular shelf or flange 5 which extends radially of the unit and is provided with a. convex outer bearing surface 6. The convex surface, which faces outwardly of the unit, allows the unit, and particularly the associated extremity thereof, to oscillate or rock about its major or vertical axis during service, and as .a result thereof no abnormal strains will be created in the unit upon a deviation of a superimposed member from a true .vertical movement. The end plate or cap is provided with an inwardly extending protuberance or projection I which is disposed axially of the unit and forms in part an outwardlyfacing recess or relief I capable of accommodating a positioning means (not shown) associated/with a superimposed member to retain the upper extremity of the unit in a predetermined position. Extending around the projection l and inwardly of th unit from the flange 5 is a shoulder 8 desirably of a diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the tubular member so as to fit and extend a desired distance into the tubular member. The top or cap adjacent extremity of the tubular member is scaried, as at 9, to accommodate and form a suitable pocket or recess for a weld 10 which binds orsecures the tubular member and cap together. It will, of course, be understood that the cap and tubular member may, if desired, be formed or wastes a unitary integral member t constitute the barrel member 2.

Associated with the barrel member, and particularly the tubular portion thereof, is a plurality of substantially counterpart segmental shoes ll each at which comprises a stem l2 extending vertically to within the tubular member for a distance sufficient .to allow a movement thereof inwardly of the tubular member during a compressive movement of the unit. Each shoe stem is desirably formed as a ring sector in horizontal cross section, as most clearly illustrated in Figure 2, and is provided with an outer cylindrical surface l3 in bearing relation with and capable of frictionally engaging a correspondingly formed inner surface ll'of the tubular member 4. Each shoe stem has adjacent the one or lower extremity thereof an angularly disposed radially formed flange it which preferably extends outwardly of the device or unit.

Superimposed upon the shoe flanges is an annular member or ring it which is provided on its underside with an undercut or circumambient relief I! to accommodate the shoe flanges and form an interlock or overlapping relation between the ring and shoes. Suflicient clearance is provided between portions of the shoes and ring to permit either a rotative movement of the ring with respect to the shoes or a radial movement of the shoes with respect to the ring, thus imparting a desired degree of flexibility between the ring and shoes. The exposed or lower surface I8 of the ring is, like the previously described cap surface 6, convexly formed so as to allow the unit to rock thereon and about the vertical axis of the unit to thereby relieve the unit of any abnormal stresses during service.

In order to resiliently resist the telescoping movement of the barrel member and shoes during the compressive movement of the unit as well as urge the shoes away from the barrel member during the expansive or recoil movement of the device, a helical or coil spring I! ha end convolutions thereof bearing against the cap flange 5 and annular member l6 respectively. The coil spring is positioned outwardly of the tubular member and extends around the member in spaced relation thereto. I

Extending inwardly of'thedevice from each shoe stem is a web 20, desirably triangular in form when viewed from the top, as most clearly illustrated in Figure 3, which is positioned intermediate the ends Ofeach shoe and preferably adjacent the flanged or lower end thereof. By beingspaced inwardly of the flanged end of each shoe the webs allow the formation of a recess 20* for the reception of a positioning means (not shown) formed on an associated portion of a railway truck for retaining the lower extremity of the unit in a predetermined position. The webs of the assembled shoes form a ledge or support for a superimposed movable means or filter block 2| which has a lower inclined surface 22 de ably of conical configuration in bearing'relaion with a correspondingly formed surface 23 provided on each shoe web 20. By such a disposition of the surfaces 22 and 23 the filler block will be retained axially of the device, the purpose of which willbecome apparent as the description proceeds.

Interposed between the shoes and in bearing relation with the shoe-stems is a resilient cylindrical member 24, desirably formed of rubber or any resilient material, which retains and urges the stem convex surface I! into intimate contact with the tubularmember concave surface ll so that, upon any relative movement in either direction between the barrel member and shoes, frictional forces acting on the surfaces I3 and M will be created. In this manner the unit is con-'- structed and arranged so as to be capable of effectively disturbing or dampening the natural period of vibration of the spring means associated cylinder engaging surface of the assembled sh so that the cylindrical member will be placed under an initial compression in an assembled structure and thereby capable of urging the shoes radially of the device. Also, the cylindrical member, when removed from the device, is preferably formed with plane end surfaces perpendicularly disposed to the longitudinal axis thereof, and upon compression of the cylindrical member between the assembled shoes the resilient mass of the member will flow outwardly of the ends thereof to thereby present bulged end portions having an upper spherical convex surface 25 and a lower spherical convex surface 26. It will, of course, be clearly understood that if so desired the cylindrical member may be so pre-formed as to present end portions of any configuration, for it is not the present intention to limit the cylindrical member end surfaces to a spherical disposition.

The cylindrical member is positioned vertically of the device so as to enable the lower convex surface 26 to engage and bear against a correspondingly formed convex surface 21 provided on the filler block 2|, while the upper convex surface 25 is normally spaced from and underlies a correspondingly formed convex surface 28 provided on the protuberance or projection I. By such a disposition and relation of convex surfaces 25, 26, 21 and 28 and after the device has been compressed a predetermined degree, the cylindrical member will be gradually energized to assist the helical or coil spring in resiliently resisting the compressive movement of the device. As will be understood, when the protuberance surface 28 reaches and engages the cylindrical member upper surface 25 additional compressive forces will be gradually developed in the cylindrical member and, as a result thereof, the component radial forces exerted againstthe shoe stems will increase the frictional forces acting between the tubular member and shoe stems. It will be noted that when the unit has been compressed and an expansive movement of the unit takes place, the compressed cylindrical member will act upon the projection 'l to urge the barrel member 2 away from the shoes and thereby assist the spring I! in expanding the unit. I

While merely an exemplified form of the invention has been disclosed in the accompanying drawing and described in the present specification, it will be clearly understood that numerous alterations may be made to the illustrated structure without departing from within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cushioning unit comprising a barrel member open at one end and provided at its opposite end with a radially extending flange, a plurality of counterpart shoes extending within said barrel member, each-of said shoes including an outwardly extending'flange adjacent the one end with the unit.- As clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, it will be observed that merely suflicient clearance has been provided between 'the adjacent surfacesof the shoes to allow an unrestricted breathing or radial movement therethereof and an inwardly extending rib in a plane spaced from said flange, aring bearing upon all of said shoe-flanges, a helical spring circumjacent said barrel member and bearing against said radial flange and ring for the purposeof urging said shoes and barrel member apart, a flller block within said unit inintimate contact with said ribs and having a spherically convex surface, aresilient cylinder interposed between said shoes and bearing against the convex S111"; face of said block, said cylinder being normally circumferentially greater thanthe inner and normal circumference of said shoes so that upon application of said cylinder to said unit it will be initially compressed, thereby urging said shoes outwardly and into contact with said barrel member, a, projection on said barrel member extending inwardly of said unit and being normally spaced from said cylinder, whereupon during a compressive movement of said unit, said projection will engage said cylinder and increase the radial forces which urge the shoes against sai barrel member.

2. A cushioning unit comprising a barrel member including an axially disposed projection, substantially counterpart friction shoes partially extending into said barrel member and movable said unit, said projection will engage said cylinder and said cylinder will be gradually energized to thereby increase the radial forces acting against said friction shoes.

' 3. A cushioning unit comprising a barrel member open at one end and provided at its opposite end with a radially extending flange, a plurality ber having a radially extending flange adjacent one end thereof, a plurality of counterpart shoes arranged to move relatively to said barrel member, each of said shoes having a portion thereof extending into said barrel member, outwardly extending flanges and inwardly extending ribs adjacent one end of each shoe, -a ring having an undercut relief portion receiving said outwardly extending flanges, a resilient member surrounding said barrel member and being in intimate contact with said radial flange and ring for urging said shoes and barrel member apart, 'a block within said unit bearing upon said inwardly extending ribs, a rubber cylinder disposed between said shoes for the purpose of urging said shoes outwardly of said unit, said rubber cylinder being superimposed on said block, a projection on said barrel member extending inwardly of said unit of counterpart shoes extending-within said barrel member, an annular member associated with said shoes, spring means interposed between and reacting against said radial flange and annular member, a web on each shoe directed inwardly of the unit, a filler block superimposed on said webs and having a conical surface in bearing relation with a correspondingly formed surface on said web, a cylinder interposed between said shoes for urging them radially of the unit and into engagement with said barrel member, said cylone end thereof, a plurality of. counterpart shoes extending within said barrel member, each of said shoes including an outwardly extending flange and an inwardly extending rib adjacent the one end thereof, a ring bearing on all of said shoe flanges, a helical spring circumjacent said barrel member and bearing against said radial flange and ring for the purpose of urging said shoes and barrel member apart, a filler block within said unit and bearing against said ribs, said filler block having a convex surface, a resilient cylinder interposed between said shoes and bearing against said block convex surface so as to urge said shoes outwardly and into intimate contact with said barrel member, a projection on said barrel member extending inwardly of said unit and being normally spaced from said cylinder whereupon,- during a compressive movement of said unit, said projection will engage said cylinder and thereby urge said shoes against said barrel member.

' 5. A cushioning unit comprising a barrel memhaving a convex surface, said projection being normally spaced from said cylinder whereby,.

after a predetermined compressive movement of said cushioning unit, said projection will engage said cylinder and thereby urge said shoes outwardly of said unit.

6. A cushioning unit comp'rlsing a cap having" a flange and an axially disposed projection extending inwardly of said unit, a tubular mem- '-ber secured to said cap, counterpart shoes hav ing a stem portion partially extending into said tubular member, a flange on each of said stem portions adjacent one end thereof, a helical spring circumjacent said tubular member in spaced relation thereto and reacting against said cap and shoe flanges for urging said cap and shoes apart, and cylindrical resilient means interposed between said shoes and urging said shoe stems radially of said unit into intimate contact with said tubular member, a convex surface on a flange and an axially disposed projection extending inwardly of'said unit, a convex surface on said projection, a tubular member secured to said cap, segmental shoes having a stem portion partially extending into and adapted to frictionally engage said tubular member, a flange on each of said stem portions adjacent one end thereof, a ring superimposed upon said shoe flanges, a coil spring reacting against said capflange and ring for urging said cap and shoes apart, a web extending inwardly of said unit from each shoe stem, a cylindrical resilient member interposed between said shoes for urging said stems radially of said unit and being adapted to react against said stem webs, said cylindrical member having aii end portion normally spaced from said con vex surface whereby, after a predetermined compressive movement of said unit, said convex surface will engage said end portion of the cylindrical membem and thereby gradually energize said cylindrical member.

8. A cushioning unit comprising a cap having a radial flange and an axially disposed projection extending inwardly of said unit, a tubular member secured to said cap, segmental shoes having a stem portion extending into said tubular member, flanges extending outwardly of each shoe adjacent one end thereof, resilient means associated with said radial flange and shoe flanges for urging said tubular member and shoes apart, a web on each of said shoe stems oppositely disposed from said shoe flanges, movable means superimposed upon said webs, a resilient member interposed between said shoes for urging them radially of the unit into bearing relation with said tubular member, said resilient. member being normally spaced from said projection so that, upon a compressive movement of said unit, said resilient member will be urged toward said movable means and energized by said projection.

9. A cushioning unit comprising a cap having a radial flange and an axially disposed projection extending inwardly of said unit, a tubular member secured to said cap, substantially counterpart shoes each having a stem portion extending into said tubular member, an angularly disposed flange adjacent one end of each shoe, an annular member associated with said shoe flanges for carrying said shoes away from said cap, a

coil spring circumjacent said tubular member in A shoe stem, filler means superimposed on said webs and movable relatively thereto, said filler means having a convex surface, resilient means interposed between said shoes for urging said shoe stems radially of said device and into intimate contact with said tubular member, said resilient means having an end portion in bearing relation with said filler convex surface and another end portion normally spaced from said projection so that, after a predetermined compressive movement of said unit, said projection will engage and gradually energize said resilient means.

10. A friction unit comprising a cap having a flange and a projection extending inwardly of said unit, a spherical convex surface on said projection, a tubular member welded to said cap, segmental counterpart shoes each having a stem portion partially extending into and being adapted to frictionally gage said tubular member, an angular flange extending outwardly of said device from adjacent an end of each shoe, a ring superimposed upon said shoe flanges, a coil spring interposed between-said cap flange and' ring for urging said shoes away from said cap, a

web positioned intermediate the ends of each shoe stem, a filler block bearing upon said webs and having a spherical convex surface facing said projection convex surface, a rubber cylinder interposed between said shoes for urging said stems radially of the unit, said cylinder having a spherical convex end surface in bearing relation with said block convex surface and another spherical convex end surface normally spaced from said projection convex surface so that, after a predetermined compressive movement of said unit, said cylinder will be gradually energized.

11. A barrel member for a cushioning unit comprising a cap having a radially extending flange, an axially disposed protuberance extending from one side of said cap, a shoulder formed on said cap associated with said protuberance, and a tubular member having one end thereof in telescoping relation to said shoulder; said tubular member being welded to said cap.

12. A barrel member for a cushioning unit comprising a cast cap having a radially extending flange, an axial projection extending from one side of said cap, a shoulder formed on said cap adjacent said projection, and a tubular member having one end thereof in telescoping relation to said shoulder; said tubular member being welded to said cap.

13. A cushioning unit comprising a barrel member open at one end, a plurality of substantially counterpart shoes adapted to move relatively to said barrel member and having stem portions extending within said barrel member to form a housing therein, spring means acting axially of said unit for urging said barrel member and shoes apart, and a rubber member positioned within said stem formed housing; said rubber member being normally circumferentially greater than the normal circumference of said housing so that, upon application of said rubber member to said housing, it will be initially compressed to thereby force the shoe stems radially into bearing relation with said barrel member; said barrel member and shoes being arranged and constructed so that said rubber member will be additionally energized after a predetermined compressive movement of said unit.

14. In a cushioning unit comprising a barrel member open at one end, a plurality of substantially counterpart shoes having stem portions extending within and adapted to moverelative- 1y to said barrel member, said stems forming a housing within said unit, spring means acting axially of said unit for urging said barrel member and shoes apart, a rubber member positioned within said stem formed housing, said rubber member being normally circumferentially greater than the normal circumference of said housing so that, upon application of said rubber member to said housing, it will be initially compressed to thereby urge the shoe stems radially into bearing relation with said barrel member, and means associated with said barrel member for additionally energizing said rubber member upon a compressive movement of said unit.

15. A cushioning unit comprising -a barrel member, a plurality of substantially counterpart shoes having stem portions extending within and adapted to move relatively to said barrel member, said stem portions forming a housing within said unit, spring means acting axially of said unit for urging said barrel member and shoes apart, a rubber member positioned within said stem formed housing, said rubber member being normally circumferentially greater than the normal circumference of said housing so that,

upon application of said rubber member to said I housing, it will be initially compressed to thereby urge the shoe stems radially into bearing relation with said barrel member, and means associated with said barrel member and shoes for energizing said rubber member upon a compres-" shoes and having an inclined surface in bearing relation with a correspondingly formed surface on said webs, cylindrical resilient means disposed between said shoes for urging them radially into bearing relation with said barrel memaxially of the unit, means associated with said stems inwardly of the unit, resilient means interposed between said shoe stems urging them .ciated with said barrel member adapted to urge said resilient member toward and into engagement with said movable means during a compressive movement of 'said unit.

18. A cushioning unit comprising a barrel member having an axially disposed means, substantially counterpart shoes each having a stem portion extending into said barrel member, an

adjacent one end thereof, spring means acting axially of the unit and reacting against said barv rel member and annular member, and a resilient cylinder interposed between said shoe stems for,

urging them into engagement with said. barrel member, said axially disposed means being adaptannular member interlocked with said shoe stems ed to engage said cylinder during a compressive movement of said unit to urge the cylinder against, means associated with said steins for in-.

creasing the radial pressure against the shoe stems.

19. A cushioning unit comprising a barrel member having a-central projection extending inwardly of said unit, an arcuate surface on said projection, substantially counterpart shoes each having a stem portion extending into said barrel member, a ring associated with said shoes adjacent one end thereof, spring means acting between said barrel memberand ring for urging said member and shoes apart axially of the unit, arcuate surfaces on said barrel member and ring to permit the unit to rock about its vertical axis, and a resilient cylinder interposed between said shoe stems for urging them into engagement with said barrel member; said cylinder, upon a compressive movement of said unit, being engaged by said projection arcuate surface and urged into engagement with means associated with said stems for gradually increasing theradial forces against said shoe stems. I 20. A shoe for a friction unit comprising a stem portion of cylindrical configuration in'horizontal cross section, a flange extending from said stem adjacent one end thereof, and a web extending from said stem in vertical spaced relation to said flange, said web having a conical surface facing away from said flange and adapted to form a ledge for an associated member.

21. A friction unit comprising a barrel member having a projection extending inwardly of said unit, substantially counterpart shoes each having a stem portion extending into said barrel member, spring means acting between said barrelmember and shoes for urging them apart into engagement with said barrel member,- said resilient means having an arcuate surface associated with said stem means and another arcuate surface spacedfrom said projection so that, upon a compressive movement of said unit, said projection .will engage the corresponding arcuate surface, thereby gradually increasing the radial pressure against said shoes.

22. A friction unit comprising a barrel member, substantially counterpartfriction shoes each having a. stem portion extending into said barrel member, spring means acting between said barrel member and shoes for urging them apart axially of the unit, means associated with said shoe stems and having a convex surface; and a resilient cylinder interposed between said shoe stems urging them radially of the unit into hearing relation with said barrel member; said cylinder, during a compressive movement of said unit,

being urged into engagement with said convex. surface by said barrel member for gradually increasing the radial forces against said stems.

23. A friction unit comprising a member, a

projection on said member, substantially counterpart shoes having portions thereof positioned within said member, and rubber means interposed between said shoe portions for urging them into engagement with said member 'so that, upon a compressive movement of said unit, frictional forces will be created on engaging surfaces of said member and shoe portions; said rubber means, when removed from the unit, being of a greater horizontal dimension than the distance between assembled shoe portions, whereby upon application of said rubber means to said unit it will be precompressed to urge said shoe portions against said member; said projection being adapted to engage and additionally energize said rubber means after a predetermined compressive movement of said unit.

24. A friction unit comprising a member substantially counterpart shoes having portions thereof positioned within said member, and rubber means interposed between said shoe portions for urging them into engagement with said member so that, upon a compressive movement of said unit, frictional forces will be created on engaging surfaces of said member and shoe portions; said rubber means, when removed from the unit, being of a greater horizontal dimension than the distance between assembled shoe portions, whereby upon application of said rubber means to said unit it will be precompressed to urge said shoe portions against said member; said member being adapted to additionally compress said rubber means after apredetermined compressive movement of said unit. 'EMIL H. BLAT'I'NER, 

